Rika Kihira | Page 75 | Golden Skate

Rika Kihira

Truly beautiful performance from Rika under pressure: my favorite SP performance for the woman. I really enjoyed the fiery change of costume combined with Rika's quick multi-directional changes in speed, the limber knee and sharp crisp blade movement, as well as the fluidity and flexibility in her upper body in rhythmic movement through intriguing music with compelling choreography displaying engaging artistry. Rika's position, ease and flow in and out of the triple axel was marvelous, and the 3F / 3T combo was done really nicely too. Also, it's great that Rika maintained her composure to smooth out the tricky end to the 3 loop so well. This is where her lightning fast reflexes and agility kicked in. I think the tech score should have been closer based on a closer inspection of edges which should have made a GOE difference in jumps and because I think Rika should have received more in the step sequence. Also, I think Rika should have had a PCS lead instead of being behind. The fact that Rika received an almost identical PCS score within 6/100 of a point of the one in the Skate Canada SP is remarkable, considering the other variables in scoring. Checking the moves that have been made, there are significant scoring irregularities compared to past GP events that are unfavorable for Rika and other skaters since the memo, and having the competition in Japan provides cover as it has done a number of times before. I hope Rika has a fabulous freeskate and is scored well.
 
mm how do you know that's her problem? I have seen more clean loops with rippon than without it, the rippon is not the problem actually I think it has helped her with consistensy, the problem is the axis she gets con that jump, so without rippon it would not change anything, anyway when she lands the loop with best quality its an amazing and beautiful jump and judges still reward tantos and rippons with GOE so she will still doing them, she has the most beautiful tanos and rippons on ladies field after all
 
doublequad said:
she needs to stop doing 3Lo with rippon
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As the previous poster mentioned, I think the rippon actually improved her 3Lo. She just has a tendency to go off axis during this jump. However, the issue here wasn't that she went off axis, the issue was overotation.. she didn't check out quickly enough. That has no relation to her rippon.

She needs to (if healthy) bring back her lutz which still gives her higher BV and GOE. She has some of the best GOE (actually the best in the +5/-5 era) in the ladies field on her lutz.

However, I guess a good result of this injury is that she is forced to face problems with the loop. It has been her last jump in the SP and LP this year. So, hopefully it will be a more solid jump in the future.
 
The plus side is, Rika landed three triple axels cleanly, skated two programs without any major mistakes, and will have two more weeks to fully prepare herself for the GPF.

The minus side is, she skated that watered-down layout again. Not what any of us was probably hoping for. With her lutzes, she could have won this competition. Alas, we'll see next time.
 
I was really impressed with Rika's combination of technical and artistic excellence and her triple axels appeared effortless with powerful flow and beautiful air position, so much so that they even enhanced the program's artistry wonderfully. I thought Rika should have won in components in the short and even more in the long. In my opinion, she varied her speed to coincide well with the tempo of the music, her blade action was more intricate with quicker change of edges, and she had more fluidity in movement and dynamic expression attuned to the music. It is evident she has been undertaking painstaking effort to improve her skating skills and performance for quite a while and her attention to detail even in fine tuning and improvement in her beautiful costuming is evident. I think this is also evident in the step sequences and the fact that Rika received lower scores in the the step sequence when her scores should have been higher. Again the elephant in the room memo is not being discussed and it is making a difference in all skating categories. Secondly, Rika's ur was called, while for Alena, who skated well overall, a two footed landing on the triple lutz in the long is ignored as evidenced by the spray from the ice on landing, unclear lutz edges are overlooked in the SP and LP and given high GOE and the triple salchow backend ur was ignored. Rika can up her tech content, but she already landed more triple axels in this competition with better rotation and she should also be rewarded fairly for her other technical, skating and artistic excellence as well, instead of having to make up a scoring handicap imposed on her and other skaters. Rika would have won this event if it had been scored fairly.
 
I am so proud of Rika for skating 2 clean programs!
Had she performed at least the Lutz, she could have won this whole thing. But she's playing the bigger game here. And that's smart. Health first before a grand prix gold.

Her 3As are getting more solid and consistent. I'm excited to see her land a 4S at the GPF or Nationals. Go for Worlds Gold!
 
Rika should be proud because she put down two visibly clean ( she had an UR on the 3F+3T combo, ugly landing on her 3loop in the short, and a lost level in the free so not 100% perfect) performances for the first time ever in international competition.(?) Her confidence and her mental game is on a completely different level this year.

Now, if only that confidence and mental game could be combined with a 3lz, she could be winning these competitions. I was just doing some calculations on the skating scores website and if she had just had 3 lutzes in the program with her normal good lutz GOE, she would have scored close to 84 points in the short and over 157 in the free. Basically, she would have won this competition. Please come back lutz, please come back... and you can bring a 4S with you too, pretty please?
 
I feel like her general skating was even better in this particular free.

She's was very fast, very smooth.

My husband who only watches skating over my shoulder every so often remarked "Oh that girl jumps like it's no effort at all."

I got the impression she and her team were pleased with her performance. That puts me at ease because I get the impression they have a plan and today was all part of the plan.
 
I'm so happy Rika made the GPF. I really wanted her to get that NHK Gold, but I'm happy that she's happy. Can't wait to see her in Torino! I'm going to cheer for her extra loud and hope she podiums!
 
I didn't watch NHK live as it started at midnight where I'm from, but congrats to Rika on another silver and excellent score. I would have loved to see the 4S, of course, but now the wait is just more fun/terrifying.

Alas I am not a fan of the costume changes, as I LOVED her previous dresses. Not sure why she switched, but the SP dress is shorter and single-layered, so I'm guessing the new dresses are easier to move in. Still, hope she'll bring back the originals occasionally.

Now, rest and Torino. Once again I just hope she'll skate happily and her talent will be recognized by the judges. Considering the scoring debate/whining as of late, I hate that I'm kind of gloomy about her GPF prospects in relation to her competitors. But the show must go on...
 
Noxchild said:
I didn't watch NHK live as it started at midnight where I'm from, but congrats to Rika on another silver and excellent score. I would have loved to see the 4S, of course, but now the wait is just more fun/terrifying.

Alas I am not a fan of the costume changes, as I LOVED her previous dresses. Not sure why she switched, but the SP dress is shorter and single-layered, so I'm guessing the new dresses are easier to move in. Still, hope she'll bring back the originals occasionally.

Now, rest and Torino. Once again I just hope she'll skate happily and her talent will be recognized by the judges. Considering the scoring debate/whining as of late, I hate that I'm kind of gloomy about her GPF prospects in relation to her competitors. But the show must go on...
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I think she needs those lutzes more than 4s for now. I hope she take another year to work on 4s before putting it in.
 
Rika skated so beautifully today - she is quick across the ice, really makes those jumps look effortless, lands really softly on those deeply bent knees, and she was clean on all of her 3As, without any hesitation going into them! She is honestly amazing, and once she has her lutz back, her technical score will climb even higher. I also think she does a great job with her music, hitting the notes, and changing how she moves her body and holds herself with each change of the music, which really impresses me. She was fantastic today, and I am looking forward to seeing her in the Grand Prix Final - it is going to be so exciting this year, and I hope Rika does well!
 
I just love Rika! I wasn't sure about her programs at the beginning of the season but they are really starting to develop. And the new costumes are a blessing.
I feel like Rika is one of the few skaters who is always fairly scored for what she puts out on the ice that day. But compared to some others, I would consider her underscored.
She had to skate at the hardest assignments this year, so two silver medals are an amazing achievement! But I really hope she will win some gold medals as well this season. :luv17:
 
Congratulations ma girl! Those were super progams! She is more into her programs every time she competes wow! Shes the wold package!, first international competition with three clean triple axels from her, at this rate shes is going to beat Mao's total number of clean triple axels in a wold figure skating career
 
Logirl said:
I think she needs those lutzes more than 4s for now. I hope she take another year to work on 4s before putting it in.
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I mean she needs the lutz, obviously. She could have won gold at this competition if she had it. However, if her leg is not healed she should not bring it back until it is safe to do so. I don't think she should wait a year before including the 4S. It look very close to being ready at NHK. If she can semi-consistently land it in practice (even with a slight UR), she should put it into her program because it will greatly benefit her BV and she needs to practice it in competition before the really important events (Japanese Nationals and Worlds).
 
I think gold is amost secure for her at nationals, 4CC and in a minor event if she plans to compete on one as last season, the big ones with great uncertanity of results will be gpf, and worlds where she can place probably between 4th place and first, I think if she brings back her lutz with also the incorporation of the 4S in her programs with consistensy the winning in those two major competitions it's very possible, but it will depend of how her rivals will do it and for rivals I mean obviusly Eteri girls. For what Rika has done so far this season I have a good feeling we will be surprised :)
 
RafaelAstro said:
I think gold is amost secure for her at nationals, 4CC and in a minor event if she plans to compete on one as last season, the big ones with great uncertanity of results will be gpf, and worlds where she can place probably between 4th place and first, I think if she brings back her lutz with also the incorporation of the 4S in her programs with consistensy the winning in those two major competitions it's very possible, but it will depend of how her rivals will do it and for rivals I mean obviusly Eteri girls. For what Rika has done so far this season I have a good feeling we will be surprised :)
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She has a gold from Aci this year and I agree where she will find herself in a good position to acquire another one will be at nationals and 4cc. Unfortunately for GPF we just must cross our finger, toes, and eyes and hope she will squeak out a bronze. I desperately want her on that podium.:pray::pray::thumbsup:
 
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